Uganda is entering a decisive phase in its journey toward achieving a USD 500 billion economy by 2040, as envisioned under the Tenfold Growth Strategy and National Development Plan IV (NDP IV). Both frameworks emphasize sustainable industrialization for inclusive growth, employment, and wealth creation.
However, the success of this economic transformation rests on the vibrancy, competitiveness, and quality orientation of the private sector particularly Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). MSMEs account for 98.8% of Uganda’s enterprises, contribute 75% of GDP, 77% of formal jobs, and generate 80% of domestic revenue. They are the backbone of Uganda’s economic fabric and the engine of future industrialization. Despite this importance, MSMEs face persistent challenges—limited access to finance, low productivity, weak innovation, and poor compliance with standards. Furthermore, the MSME Policy (2015) and the National Standards and Quality Policy (2012) have become outdated amid evolving national, regional, and continental priorities, including the AfCFTA, the EAC Industrialization Strategy (2021–2031), digital transformation, and sustainability imperatives
This White Paper makes the case for a territorial governance approach that reinforces urban–rural linkages by empowering local actors and enabling their collective agency. Local, traditional, and farmers markets serve as strategic hubs that offer multiple levers and diverse forms of capital for transforming food systems within cities, across urban–rural interfaces, and throughout wider territorial landscapes. Investing in both hard (physical) and soft (capacity-building) market infrastructure, supporting diverse knowledge systems, and advancing inclusive “whole-of-society” governance are essential steps toward unlocking resilient and sustainable food systems now and in the future. With these foundations in place, communities, governments, and sectors can routinely apply best practices and participate meaningfully in decision-making processes that foster a wide range of regenerative, biodiverse food value chains. Such systems create market and food environments characterized by vibrant public spaces; access to affordable, safe, culturally preferred, healthy diets; reduced and valorized food waste; and opportunities for dignified, prosperous livelihoods.
Much of today’s headline news paint a grim picture — numerous crises unfolding alongside a sharp decline in global solidarity and the withdrawal of the private sector from net-zero commitments. The unity that inspired the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development a decade ago now feels increasingly distant.
Yet, the embers of that spirit, which imbued the launch of the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge in 2021, remain.
GAIN’s contributions were made possible through the Nourishing Food Pathways programme, which is jointly funded by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands; European Union; government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada; Irish Aid through the Development Cooperation and Africa Division; and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The findings, ideas, and conclusions contained presented here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect positions or policies of any of GAIN’s funding partners.
The handbook is also supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
Why Climate and Nutrition Integration Matters?
Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it intersects with systemic multiple aspects of human life. It interlinks the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which aim to end hunger and poverty, preserve the environment, and ensure prosperity. In practice, climate change worsens hunger and hidden hunger as its increasing disasters, declining agricultural harvest and productivity, and threatening crop nutrition.
World Children’s Day 2025 – 20th Nov
My Day, My Rights
GAIN strengthens school meals, supports local SMEs, and boosts access to nutrient-rich foods.
We empower children and youth as changemakers to build healthier, stronger communities.
The Climate & Nutrition Story with Oliver Camp
EP 27
This episode covers linking climate and nutrition through policies, strategies, and finance.
For Immediate Release
Urgent Call for Accelerated Action on Climate-Nutrition Integration – Latest Assessment
Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean are leading the way
Strongest integration is at the nexus of gender, nutrition and climate change, with 69% ccGAPs showing a clear intention to address climate and nutrition in tandem.
Very low levels of integration in the private sector – 79% of the 350 companies assessed had zero integration.
London/Geneva, November 07, 2025: The Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN) released its latest worldwide assessment of the integration of nutrition and climate action. The report analyses 16 key indicators across 198 countries, revealing that some policy areas have made progress – particularly national nutrition and adaptation plans.
The I-CAN Assessment 2025 aims to provide a snapshot into the current state of integration between climate and nutrition action across 16 indicators in policy and finance. Despite modest progress since 2023, the report makes clear that integration of climate and nutrition in key international and national policies and financing remains limited, slowing progress towards both reducing malnutrition and climate goals. However, the report also helps to highlight priority areas for action, spotlighting examples of best practice we can learn from as we progress into the second half of this critical decade for the SDGs and climate action.
Local and traditional food retail markets are inherent in a city’s social fabric and the urban food environment. Millions of residents connect daily through food at local and traditional markets; and for many low income urban residents, this is their primary source of food.
Thousands of tons of fresh, dried and on ice produce flow into these retail and wholesale-retail hybrid markets, bought by consumers directly and/or by food-outlets, restaurants, and last mile vendors.
